A unique coastal town where laterite cliffs drop straight into the Arabian Sea. The cliff-top promenade is lined with cafés and shacks, and the Janardanaswamy Temple draws pilgrims.
What a day here looks like
The things most people actually do in Varkala, by time of day.
Morning
- Papanasam Beach holy dip (sin-cleansing)1h · easy
- Janardanaswamy Temple darshan (2000-year-old)1h · easy
- Sunrise yoga on the cliff1h 30m · easy
- Sivagiri Mutt pilgrimage (Sree Narayana Guru)1h 30m · easy
Afternoon
- Ayurvedic full-body massage at cliff resort2h · easy
- Anjengo Fort & lighthouse walk (12km south)2h 30m · moderate
Evening
- Varkala cliff walk at sunset1h 30m · easy
- North Cliff seafood restaurant dinner2h · easy
About 13h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.
A plan from our planner, day by day
Generated by the same planner you'd use — not a sample someone wrote once.
- 1🌅 Slow Day5h out
- Sunrise yoga on the cliff · morning, 1.5h
- Ayurvedic full-body massage at cliff resort · afternoon, 2h
- Varkala cliff walk at sunset · evening, 1.5h
First evening belongs to the shore — drop your bags and walk to the water.
- 2🙏 Spiritual Day8h out
- Papanasam Beach holy dip (sin-cleansing) · morning, 1h
- Janardanaswamy Temple darshan (2000-year-old) · morning, 1h
- Sivagiri Mutt pilgrimage (Sree Narayana Guru) · morning, 1.5h
- Anjengo Fort & lighthouse walk (12km south) · afternoon, 2.5h
- North Cliff seafood restaurant dinner · evening, 2h
Final day in Varkala — this day follows the rhythm of pilgrimage — morning prayers, temple circuits, evening aarti.
Swap places, change the pace, set your own dates.
Plan my Varkala tripMust-see highlights
Papanasam Beach (holy dip, cliff view)
Janardanaswamy Temple
Cliff walk sunset
Sivagiri Mutt (Sree Narayana Guru)
Black Beach snorkeling
Ayurvedic treatment centres
North Cliff cafe culture
Anjengo Fort (17km)
Kappil Beach & backwaters (10km)
Kerala Bamboo House resort experience
Paragliding from cliff
Loading 11 more places…
On the map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Varkala Sivagiri 3 km · Trivandrum (TRV) 50 km
Nearest transport
Stay options
In Oct, expect stays around 30% pricier than the base rate.
Best time to visit
October – March
How to get here
Trivandrum → Varkala
train · 1h
₹100
approx.
Trivandrum → Varkala
cab · 1.5h
₹1,500
approx.
Nearby attractions
Varkala questions, answered
What is the best time to visit Varkala?
The best months are January, February, December. October – March May scores lowest on weather and conditions.
How many days do you need in Varkala?
Most people spend 2 days in Varkala. There are around 8 main things to do, totalling roughly 13 hours of activity.
How do you get to Varkala?
The nearest railway station is Varkala Sivagiri (3 km) and the nearest airport is Trivandrum (TRV) (50 km). The cheapest common route is Trivandrum → Varkala by train, about ₹100 per person one way.
How much does a trip to Varkala cost?
Stays start around ₹1,500 per night, with food about ₹500 per person per day.
If you like Varkala
Closest matches across all of India, by character rather than by map.
